The Zsquared Almanac: Wit, Wisdom & Work Vol. II – May 2025

Vol. I - April 2025

To My Most Stalwart Crew, Friends, and Fools Who Subscribe,

Having returned from the swells of the Sea of Cortez, we are reminded that fortune favors neither the idle nor the impatient. You don’t catch marlin by drifting—you stand watchful, scanning the surface, rod in hand, ready to cast with purpose. Much the same with hiring, merely trolling the waters with hopes (job boards) won’t bring in the big ones. But cast where others don’t...

On the Nature of Search—and the Sea

In marlin fishing, success comes not from aimless motion but from sharp eyes and steady hands. You scan the water’s skin for the faint cut of a dorsal fin, a flickering tail. When you see it, you cast with precision—directly, deliberately.

At Zsquared & Co., we do not troll. We do not drag a net through the sea in desperate hope to snag the average. No, we scan. We know the market like a sailor reads the wind. We cast not widely, but wisely. Ours is a targeted, practiced approach—born not of luck, but of craft.

In a world adrift with noise, this is how you catch the marlin.

Lessons from the Deck

The Sea of Cortez is a teacher if you’ve got the stomach—and the sunscreen—for the lesson. Some days, the fish don’t bite. The bait goes untouched. But even on those days, you learn: where the water moves, where the birds gather, where the currents split.

Hiring is no different. Some roles sit quiet. Candidates ghost. But every cycle, every search, every silent stretch gives you something—data, direction, and a sharper eye for the next cast.

And So, to my fellow business leaders: trust the quiet days. They season the sailor.

A Moment of Levity for Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo, though often mistaken for Mexico’s Independence Day, actually commemorates the underdog victory at the Battle of Puebla. A scrappy band of Mexican fighters repelled a much larger French force with grit, courage, and not a little luck. Let that be a toast and a teaching: size isn’t everything, and sometimes the long shot wins.

So today, toast to the underestimated. To the dark horses. To the job candidates who don’t tick every box but end up running the company.

A Call to Chart the Course Together

If this Almanac finds you smiling—or better yet, thinking—consider subscribing for more. Each month, I’ll share a mix of market insights, hiring wisdom, and the occasional tale from the sea. The Zsquared Almanac sails best with a loyal crew aboard.

Subscribe at https://www.zsquaredandco.com/blog/categories/zsquared-almanac .

Should you know someone who’d enjoy a sharp cast of wit and work, send them our way.

Until next time,

Keep your line tight, your humor dry, and your compass true.

Yours in Search and Salt Air,

Zsquared & Co.